Salman Khan cancels his Holi party in support of Sanjay Dutt

Another big Bollywood brigade believe it is unwise to splash around when an Indian state is facing acute water shortage

By

Sneha May Francis

PublishedWednesday, March 27, 2013

Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt hosting Bigg Boss season 5. (AFP)

It's the fun festival of vibrant colours, yet Bollywood is wearing a rather gloomy look.

The reason: the sentencing of one of it's most popular actors and the acute water shortage in the Indian state of Maharastra.

Salman Khan is leading the Bollywood gang, who is expressing their solidarity with actor Sanjay Dutt, who was recently sentenced to 5-years in prison for illegal possession of arms.

According to a Bollywood goss website, Salman has cancelled his annual Holi party that he was planning to host at his farmhouse on Wednesday, because he doesn't wish to celebrate when his good pal is going through a rough patch.

He has reportedly called off the party at the last-minute and is, instead, planning, a quiet family gathering.

Another huge section of Bollywood is lobbying for a waterless Holi, with many senior artists claiming it’s unprincipled to splash around when the Indian state of Maharastra is facing acute water shortage.

The Indian festival of colours is often celebrated with much pomp and show in B-town, with actors like Akshay Kumar and Govinda hosting lavish parties to celebrate the festivities.

This year, however, the senior artists are either working or calling for a more sober celebration.

Amitabh Bachchan tweeted about his request, asking his fellow film fraternity members and the public from refraining from using water colours at a time when Maharastra is suffering water shortage.

“Water shortage in Maharashtra ... and its only March. What will happen in Summer ? Save water ! Play a dry Holi !!” tweeted @SrBachchan.

Joining him in this crusade are actors Hrithik Roshan, Riteish Deshmukh and many others.

“The drought situation in Maharashtra is extremely serious this year. Need of the hour is to save water. This holi say NO 2 water. #DryHoli,” tweeted @Riteishd.

“Hrithik won't be celebrating Holi as a mark of solidarity with those who are suffering from the acute water shortage in Maharashtra. Instead, he will only use gulaal (colour) for the traditional ritual,” reported the Indian media.

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta also tweeted his solidarity to the cause. “So this year I will not be hosting my traditional Holi bash as always. The draught situation has to be acknowledged and adhered.”

Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur also tweeted in his support. “80% Indians have just half a bucket of clean water/day 2 cook food for d whole family. Are u really going to waste that playing Holi?”

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has announced her decision to celebrate, but with dry colours.

“In kpng with tradition started by Abba celebrating Holi tmrw with organic colours and no water bcoz of Maharashtra drought,” she tweeted.

The younger lot of celebs, however, are all set to party and paint the town in various colours.

New actors on the block and ‘Student of the Year’ stars Varun Dhawan and Siddarth Malhotra, who are away from their homes on work, have not let work spoil their fun plans.